Chapter Six #2
“Yes. I am Lady Joy.” Joy rested a hand on Jansen’s arm, more for support than to hold him back.
Who knew what the note held—and it had to be dire for something like that to be delivered at a party rather than her residence.
It had to be either from Lady Constance or her mother, Lady Burrastone.
They were probably discreetly asking her to leave for causing such a scene.
That would not be a problem, since such gatherings were far from her favorite forms of amusement.
She took the note and was mildly surprised when the footman hurried away. Apparently, no response would be required. As she read the words, a nauseating chill washed across her.
Everyone will know. I will see to it—they will hear my truth:
The Reader’s Dare Club keeps the Broadmere family accounts fat and full, restoring them from where the duke drains them away with drink, gambling, and whoring. A pity one of the sisters has to ensure the family does not fall from grace and become paupers.
I want my money back. Now.
One hundred pounds by teatime tomorrow. In the hollow tree that stands in Mayfair’s mews. Behind Lord Denby’s residence. I feel sure you know the one I mean.
Pay or everyone will know my truth about your illicit club. Do not test me. You will fail.
“Who could have…” She stumbled to one side, grateful when Jansen caught her.
He helped her to a nearby bench. “What did it say?”
Unable to speak, she handed it to him while staring across the garden and not seeing anything. Who could hate her so much to make up such a lie about her family and threaten her in such a manner? Connie and Prudie wouldn’t stoop so low—would they?
“We should get you home,” he said. “I am concerned for your safety. We must show this to your brother, as well, and speak to that damn footman. I will have the name of whoever gave this to him, and I will have it tonight.”
“We cannot show it to Chance. He doesn’t know about the club.
Only my sisters know. Please…please don’t tell him.
” She snatched the horrible note back from him and reread it, still unable to believe its words.
“What woman would send this? No men other than yourself know about the club, and how in heaven’s name would they ever come up with such a lie about my family?
I have ruined us all. Utterly ruined us. ”
He caught hold of her and forced her to look at him. “You have not ruined anyone or anything. This is merely a battle we must and will win. Lady Constance and Lady Prudence. Are they not your archenemies now? One of them must have sent it. Do you not agree?”
She slowly shook her head. “I cannot imagine either of them behaving this way. Truly, I cannot. I know they can be mean-spirited and petty, but never could I see them as…as…a pair of heartless blackmailers and liars.”
“Tuck the note away and come. I am escorting you home. Whoever sent that has to be here, and that means you are in danger. I’ll not have it, my angel. I will not allow anyone to harm you.”
“Harm me? Haven’t they harmed me enough by sending such a threat?”
“Threats are painful, my love. But trust me, there are worse things to endure. Let us fetch Aurelia. I’ll not leave her here unguarded, either.
I cannot depend on Ambrose to protect her.
He is nigh on useless whenever there is endless drink that costs him nothing.
Once I see you safely home, I shall return and investigate more fully. ”
Joy folded the note even smaller and stuffed it into her reticule while glancing all around to see if anyone was watching her.
That might give her a clue as to the miscreant’s identity.
“Let us find Aurelia and Serendipity. I’ll tell Seri I’m feeling unwell and must leave.
I’ll share the truth with her once she and the girls get home. ”
“Agreed. That would probably be best.” He helped her stand and steadied her for a moment before they assumed the demeanor of a loving couple with not a care in the world.
As they entered the ballroom, Connie and Prudie rushed over, terror in their eyes and suspiciously identical squares of notepaper clutched in their gloved hands.
“I did not do this,” Connie blurted out. “I swear I did not do this—never would I do this.” She shoved her note into Joy’s hands. The only difference was the threat that they would blame Connie for the blackmail.
“And I had nothing to do with this either,” Prudie said, her fears making her face a bright red. “Never would I do something so dastardly—I swear it on my father’s grave.” Her note was much the same as Connie’s, only threatening to blame her for the blackmail rather than Connie.
“I got one too,” Aurelia announced matter-of-factly as she joined them. She handed it over to Jansen, as if knowing her big brother would happily take care of it and the sender.
“I wonder if Freddie got one too?” Joy looked all around, then realized she hadn’t seen her friend all evening.
“Freddie declined,” Connie said. “Something about feeling unwell, but I took it as a snub because of our argument at the bookshop.”
“Someone is targeting us because they know us to be the ones running the Reader’s Dare Club,” Joy said.
“And between the four of us, they stand to gain four hundred pounds. Can any of you recall any disgruntled players? Anyone bitter over losing a particular pot, or protesting how a game turned out?” Joy tried to think of anyone who might have fussed a bit more than the usual disappointment at losing, and couldn’t recall a single name.
“No one I know ever became overwrought—especially when they knew a portion of their losses was going to help the children.”
“I cannot think of a single, bitter soul,” Connie said with a despondent sniff.
“Nor I,” Prudie agreed.
“Come, Aurelia. We are taking Lady Joy home.” Jansen nodded at Connie and Prudie. “We will do our best to discover the truth, ladies. If you think of anyone or anything else that might be helpful, do let us know.”
Both Connie and Prudie nodded while clutching their notes to their hearts.
*
“Four hundred pounds.” Jansen almost cringed at the amount once they found themselves safely seated in his carriage and rolling toward Broadmere House. “An astonishing amount. Such blatant greed.”
“Freddie keeps the books and would have notified me of anyone losing anywhere close to that amount of money. We do have rules regarding the limits of acceptable wagers for this very reason. We don’t wish anyone to overextend themselves.
” Joy clutched the neck of her pale-blue beaded reticule as if trying to strangle it.
“And if Freddie received a note this evening, at her home, that brings the demand to a total of five hundred pounds. I wager she got one, and we shall hear about it tomorrow.”
The more Jansen thought about it, the angrier he became.
How dare someone threaten his angel. As far as he was concerned, Lady Constance and Lady Prudence had earned a good comeuppance, but not his precious Joy, Aurelia, or the amicable Lady Frederica.
All the ladies had done with their daring club was help feed and clothe the poorest children of London while giving the richest females of the ton a somewhat innocent diversion every Tuesday afternoon.
“I will deliver the money,” he said, “then hang back to capture the blackguard and bring him to justice.”
“It cannot be a him,” Aurelia said. “This despicable person must be a woman. Remember?”
“Unless it is a disgruntled husband, brother, or father who discovered the woman’s losses.
” Joy yanked off her gloves and twisted them along with the beaded strings of her reticule.
“You don’t think it could possibly be someone’s personal maid, do you?
One whose lady confided in her about her losses? ”
“I still feel we must warn your brother, my angel. He should not be blindsided by this matter.” Even if the duke didn’t like him, Jansen would want to know it if Aurelia were in danger, and felt it was common courtesy to warn Broadmere.
“And we may be forced to call in the Bow Street Runners, depending on what I’m able to discover once I return to the ball to speak to the footman who delivered the notes. ”
“I am well and truly ruined. I’ll be lucky if Chance doesn’t dump a bucket of eels in my bed.”
“What?” Jansen eyed her, wondering if he’d heard that correctly. “Did you say eels?”
“Never mind.” With a shudder, Joy closed her eyes and bowed her head. “How could I do this to my family? My reputation does not matter—but poor Felicity, Merry, and Seri. What have I done to them? What have I done to Aurelia and Freddie?”
He gathered her closer, ignoring Aurelia when she started clearing her throat in a most annoying, chaperone-like way. “I shall put you out on the side of this road if you continue that nonsense, Aurelia.” He gave her a sharp glare to underscore the threat.
“Sorry.” But she didn’t sound it. With a heavy sigh, she propped her chin in her hand and stared out the window into the darkness.
Jansen turned back to his beloved, lifting her face to his. “Joy,” he said softly.
She opened her eyes and gave him such a despondent look that he cradled her closer still. “What?”
“We will overcome this. I swear it.”
Crestfallen, she reached up and hesitantly touched his cheek. “Can you swear no one will be ruined? Not my sisters? Not Aurelia? Not Freddie?”
“For now”—he paused and kissed her forehead, breathing in the delicate rose scent of her fragrance and reveling in her warm softness pressed against him—“all I can promise is that I will get to the bottom of this foulness and end it—and I will protect you.”
“There goes Ambrose,” Aurelia said as a carriage pulled alongside them. She winked and kicked Jansen in the shin. “Put me out here. I shall ride home with my favorite brother.”